Daniel 5

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. V.—Alas, how mad is it to riot in luxury and real security—in drunkenness and uncleanness; when death and hell stand ready to receive us! But awfully criminal is that mirth in which men profane or set with sacred things. Immorality and impiety, drunkenness and idolatry, may promote one another. And indeed drunken worshippers are good enough and dunghill gods. How easily can God awaken the most secure, and cause the most heart to tremble! and the incapacity of creatures to comfort adds to it. But if an hand-writing on a wall can so affect sinners, how is it that they do not tremble to see, every day, in the Bible, God sounded strong, denouncing their everlasting damnation! Wise counsellors are strangely overlooked at luxurious courts. But necessity nevertheless often forces their despisers to receive them back to honour and regard; and such are worthy of praise who again introduce them to esteem. Ministers ought to deal faithfully with the greatest, in shewing them their guilt, their presumptuous pride and proneness, and what they may expect for their punishment; and God will procure honour to such, even from them who condemn his own word. U 6